Sabbath Marketplace Service Blessings of Observing Sabbath 27

Sabbath Marketplace Service Blessings of Observing Sabbath 27 April 2019 3 to 5 pm Jehu & Christine Chan ICEJ Singapore National Directors CMC Conference Room CT Hub #11 -15 1

Leviticus 26: 2 -13 The lesson is substantially taken from Dr. Steven L. Smith book “The Blessings of the Fourth” • Lev 26: 2 • You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD. • Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. – Exodus 20: 8 2

What does it means to keep the Sabbath Holy? • Does it mean you lie down and sleep the whole day? • The Orthodox Jew takes it to the extreme, even moving a finger to touch the elevator button is frown upon. • What did Jesus say on this matter? 3

Matthew 12: 1 -8 • At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!” But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice, ’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. 4

Matthew 12: 9 -12 Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath? ”— that they might accuse Him. Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. ” 5

Sabbath Rest • Take a break from all the problems I have dealt with all week • Stop work? • What was God’s work in the 6 Day creation? • Rest from your routine work • Lets look at the blessings that comes with observing Sabbath 6

The Fourth Law • There are four commandments that deals with the heart issue: 1. You shall have no other gods before Me. 2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 3. You shall not take name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. 10. You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbour’s. ” • Number 4 is the of universality, completeness 7

The Fourth Law The other five are hidden from man. Only God and you know: - 5. Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you. 6. You shall not murder. 7. You shall not commit adultery. 8. You shall not steal. 9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour. 8

The Fourth Law which is: – Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. This is the most obvious of the commandments. Everyone can see if you are keeping the Sabbath or not. 9

What Is Blessings? • The story of Esau – Genesis 25: 29 -34; Genesis 27: 1 -40 • He first sold his birth right for a bowl of lentil soup • He lost his blessing of his father Jacob • Jacob bargained for the birthright • He stole Esau’s blessing from his father • Notice the reaction of Esau • Important to bless our children – Aaronic blessing • Living without our father’s blessing can control or drive us to despair • Blessing is defined as a token of love and acceptance, provide security 10

The First Blessing - Productivity • Lev 26: 3 -5 • ‘If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall last till the time of vintage, and the vintage shall last till the time of sowing; • you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. • God promises His blessing to those who keep Sabbath and obey His commandments 11

Second Blessings - Undisturbed Peace Lev 26: 6 I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid; I will rid the land of evil beasts and the sword will not go through your land. ” When Israel disobey God, she is harassed by her enemies Peace despite turmoil 12

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Hayim Salomon financier, raide S 20, 000 to finance President George Washington to battle with the British in Yoketown and put an end to the war. 14

Third Blessing - Confidence Lev 26: 7 -8 “You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you. Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you” • Story of victory over the Amalekites – Exodus 17: 8 -13 • Gideon’s 300 • A few priests can take back the Temple from Alexander the Great’s army - Hanukkah 15

Fourth Blessing – Favour on Your Family “I will turn to you and make you fruitful and multiply you and will confirm my covenant with you. ” – Lev 26: 9 (ESV) “‘For I will look on you favourably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you. ” – Lev 26: 9 (NKJV) • Family is very near to the heart of God - God the Father • Numbers 6: 24 -26 • Fruitful • Cause you to be numerous = increase your influence (Gatekeepers 5 Es) • God is a covenant keeping God 16

Fifth Blessing - Renewal Lev 26: 10 “You shall eat the old harvest, and clear out the old because of the new. ” • Take time out to spend with the Lord, to reflect on your mental and emotional issues that you try to avoid. • Who am I? • Understand your giftings, passions and style 17

Giftings • Giftings refer to one’s natural gifts • Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 • Ability does not mean you have the gift • Passion is given by God • Gift + Passion = Success • Style – the way a person behaves in his default mode 18

People Unstructured Task Unstructured People Structured Task Structured 19

Sixth Blessing – Unprecedented Freedom • Lev 26: 11 -13 “I will set My tabernacle among you, and My soul shall not abhor you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk upright. ” 20

Announcements • Coming Wednesday – Isaiah 62 Prayer at 8 pm. • Next week, Prophet Rusty Russell will come to share • Offering for ICEJ 21